Steering-post control



June 7, 1927. 1,631,795

F. F. CHANDLER ET AL I sTEERINmPosT common Filed Dec. 16. 1926 mum I ////n -I l 'lI/A lllllllllh 1 N V EN TORS.

Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN F. CHANDLER AND 'RAYMOND E. YOUNG, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA, AS?

SIGNORS T0 ROSS GEAR & TOOL COMPANY, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA, A CORIORA- TION OIEINDIANA.

STEERING-POST CONTROL.

Application flled December 16, 1926. Serial No. 155,190.

Our invention is a novel improveinent'in control assemblies for-steering gears of automobiles, and its object is to providesimple and novel means for frictionally holding the various control levers in any adjusted-posi tion and for limiting the extent of arcuate movements of said control levers. The invention is animprovement upon the lever control shown in the co -pending application of Gruenewald and Ross, Serial No. 1 18,55 1, filed November-15, 1926; and a further object of the invention is'to simplify and improve said control and to enable more than two control'levers to be very readily assembled and frictionally held in any adjusted position. v j

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, and we will explain .the same, with reference thereto to enable others to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of constructio'n, and novel combination of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings,- Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of the lower end of a steering gear equipped with our improved frictional devices for holding the control levers in adjusted positions, and for limiting the movement of said levers.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionalview on the line 3-8, Fig. 1; v Fig. 4 is a detail of the spacing plate.

Fig. 5 illustrates "a slight modification of the spring hanger.

The invention is readily adaptable to a large variety of form's of steering gears, but

is illustrated herein as applied to a steering gear of thetype shown inRoss Patent No.

1,567,997 of Dec. 29, 1925. v

In the drawings we ranged one within the other, and. extend through the steering shaft (not shown) and the gear case G at the lower end of the steering shaft, and project below the lower end suitable means (not shown) attached to the upper end of the tubes in position to be have shown three nested control tubes C, C C which are 'arreadily engaged by the fingers of the operator in the usual manner, and as shown and similar lever 1, and to the lower end of tube C is attached'a similar lever 1". Each of the levers 1, 1*, 1", preferably has a spit hub which may be clamped onto the lower end of'the tube by a screw 1 Thefree end of lever 1 may be connected byany suitable means to the usual spark adjusting device (not shown). The free end of lever 1 may be connected by any suitable means to the throttle adjusting device (not shown); and the free end of lever 1 may be connected by any suitable means to the light controlling switch (not shown).

Interposed between the hub of the lever 1 and the underside of the gear case G is a frictional washer 2 of any suitable material.

A similar frictional washerQ is interposed between lever 1 and a non-rotatable plate 3 which is shown as having a circular head axially perforated for the passage of the tube C, and a laterally projecting arm 3, the end ofwhich is notched to engage the side 5 of a U-shaped hanger 5-attached to the lower end of thegear case G. A similar frictional washer 2 is interposed between lever 1 and the lower -member 5 of th said hanger 5. I

As shown a spacing collar 4: is interposed between the levers 1 and .1, said collar loosely surrounding the tube C; and a similar'collar his interposed between the lower side of plate 3 andthe lever 1 said collar loosely surrounding the tube 0*.

The hanger 5 is shown asbeing U-shaped and the upper ends of itslparallel side portions 5*" are'secured by tap" bolts 5 to'lu s G on the lower portion of the gear case This hangerlhas a centralaperture 5 in its lowermember 5 to receive the lower end of tube C when the hanger is attached to the housing G. The side members 5 of the hanger serve as stops to limit the swinging movement of levers 1, 1, and 1 The side members 5 of the hanger are preferably provided WllJlTbGHClS 5 which impart a lonscrews 5 screwed down tl -htl the le s 5.

will be slightly extended and will act as springs, due to the bends or corrugations therein, and such resiliency of legs 5 establishes sufficient pressure upon the levers,

friction washers, and spacer collars between bar 5 and case G, to insure that the levers 1, 1, 1 will 'be held in any dClJLlSlZGCl position.

The same amount of friction is exerted on,

each of the levers 1, 1, 1 because of their contact with the friction washers as described. I

The turning of lever 1 is resisted by the friction washer 2 which contacts with the lower part of the housing G1 and is nonrotatable or stationary. ;The resistance oflever 1 to turning is produced by friction washer 2* lying between it and the stationary part 5 of the hanger. The resistance of lever 1 is provided by friction washer 2 engaging the non-rotatable plate 3. l/Vhen lever 1 is rotated, plate 3 remains stationarv, although said plate is not rigidly I attached to the hanger, said plate being held from rotating, butiis perfectly free to move up or down. Hence the frictional pressure produced by the spring action of the hunger 5 will beuniformly transferred to the various levers, so that the same amount of fric-.

tion is produced by such spring action of the hanger to resist the rotation of each of the levers 1, 1, 1.

Forming the hanger 5as above described with the resilient legs 5 does not appreciably increase its cost, since by using such hangers the usual coil springs described and shown in the application aforesaid are eliminated.

The construction permits any control tube and. lover to be turned without turning, or tending to turn, any other control tube and lever. Obviously the number of control tubes and levers used can be varied accord-- ing to the number of different controls which it is desired to haveassembled at the 1 center of the steeringcolumn.

Vi e do not consider our invention limited to theexact forms shown inthe drawings for obviously changes may be made therein withinthe scope of the claims.

N e claiinc 1. In combination With a steering post, a

control tube; a lever attached to the lower end of the control tube; frict onal means for holding thel'ever, and a; resilient hanger attached to the post below the tube-for holding said inean'siii frictional contact.

2. ln devicesasset; forth in claim 1,-. said hanger also limiting the rotatorial movement of the lever.

3. In combination with a steering post, a, plurality of nested control tubes extend ng through the post,-a lever attached to the low er end of caclicontrol tube; frctionalinem bers respectively engaging thejleversy and a resilient hanger attached to the lower end "of the post for ,holdingsaid members and levers in frictional conta i Q I 4. In devicesas set forth in claim 3,-;.-sai'd hanger also limitingthe 'otatorialgmove mentsof the levers.

V 5. In a-control assembly as set forth in claim 8, spacers interposed between the le- 6. In a control assembly as set forth claim 3, a non-rotating plate interposed-be tween the lovers. 7 7 r 711 a control assembly as-set for'thin claim 3, spacers interposed between the levers, and a non-rotating platei iterposed be tween theleversh i i 8. In combination witl a steering post, a

plurality of control tubes extending through the lower end of the post; a lever attached to the lower end of each control tube; a frictional member for each lever; a U -shaped lianger.'attached to the gear case, and having resilient legs holding said levers and menibers in posit on, and also holding the members in frictional pressure contact:

9. In mechanism as set forth in claim ment of the levers. p v

10. In aeontrol. assembly as set forthin said hanger also: limiting the rotatorial moveclaim 8, spacers interposed between the le- 1 vers. v 11. 111' a control assembly as set forth' in claim 8, a. lllQlPlfOtiltlllg plate interposedIbetween the levers.-

12.311 a control assemblyasf,

tween the levers.

13; In combination witha gear casma plug v p p U [or-n1 in claim 8, spacers'interposed between .the levers, and a non-rotating plate interposed berality of control tubes extending' through the i gear case; a lever att' chedto th-e lower end of eachcontrol a frictional member for each lever; a Ufshaped hanger attached to the gear case; a plate interposedbetweenthe levers, and noii-rotatably engaged with the hanger, said hanger having resilient legs and holding the levers and'fric'tionalmem bers in operativerelation and also providing yielding pressure contact between the levers and frictional members.

14:. In a control assembly as set forth in claim 13, spacers interposed between the levers. 1

15. In a control assembly as set forth in claim 13, spacers interposed between the levers.

16. In a control assembly as set forth in 10 claim 13, spacers interposed between the levers, and a non-rotating plate inter osedbetween the levers, substantially as escribed.

17. A U-shaped hanger for a control assembly having extensible resilient legs substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 15

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, 'We afiix our signatures;

FRANKLIN F. CHANDLER. RAYMOND E. YOUNG. 

